About

$33,463

489

backers

Sakura is a competitive game for 2-4 players set in feudal Japan. It is easy to learn, lightning-fast to play (typically under 30 minutes), and does not have player elimination.

Despite the elegantly simple design, Sakura offers a wide range of strategic options as you build the map, collect resources, recruit an army and attack other cities. There are elements of modular map building, dice-based attacks, and modifier cards. Fans of Japanese culture will notice the historical setting and the custom kanji calligraphy. You will love the organic, wooden soldier pieces which in themselves pay homage to the traditional Japanese game Shogi.

Sakura, meaning “cherry blossom”, is an important symbol in Japanese culture. Poets have sometimes compared cherry blossoms to soldiers within vast armies. These ethereal blossoms can also represent the souls of the fallen.

Click here to download our rule book as a PDF document. We want you to have all possible access to Sakura before you get your copy in December. Please forgive the lack of any professional graphic design... that will come with time!

Click here to visit the full 3rd-party review of Sakura over at Indie Conquest.

We were so excited to be featured on DJ Grandpa's podcast! Be sure to skip to around 8:05 to hear Sakura's portion... check out our episode by clicking on the icon above, or clicking here!

We have been fortunate to work with the Board Game Designer's Guild of Utah for close to a year. They are a group of gamers who meet twice a month and help play-test board games as they are being developed. The Guild has put Sakura through the gauntlet. We have received praise and constructive criticism. After months of effort, Sakura has earned the Guild's coveted stamp of approval. This signifies that we have a thoroughly solid rule book and game mechanics. This is a stamp that we will proudly display on the cover of our game box.

Do you have a printer and a pair of scissors? With a little elbow grease, you can make the print-and-play version at home months before the regular production version is ready! Your pledge at any level will get you a link to a printable Sakura PDF.

For backers of the full production game, both regular and heirloom edition, we offer 2 extra, unique maps as an Add-On item for $10. We will include them with your game at no additional shipping cost. This will bring your total maps to 6, and give you that much more variety for your 2-4 player games!

We're making a limited number of beautifully hand-made Sakura games. These deluxe editions will include all stretch goals. The game is housed in a carpenter-made cherry wood box with our Sakura kanji etched onto the top. Soldier pieces are also laser etched. Game maps are backed in wood. 4 custom wooden abacuses are included to help tally resources. Coins are made of hand-forged pewter. You will be playing on a work of art. Now shipping internationally and EU friendly!

Crowdfunding is awesome. We love how Kickstarter gives the "little guy" a chance to share big ideas with the world. Sakura is my big idea, and I want as many people to enjoy it as possible.

Free shipping within the USA!

Canada, Mexico: Please add $15 to your pledge

EU: Please add $25 to your pledge

Australia: Please add $30 to your pledge

Everywhere else: Please add $35 to your pledge

We are proud to offer EU-friendly shipping! This means that Sakura will ship from within the EU, and EU backers will not have to pay additional customs, etc. on top of their pledges + shipping. Brad, our manufacturing manager, has years of experience shipping to the EU. We've got your back!

At this time, only the regular version of Sakura will be shipped internationally. If you live outside the USA, please add the correct amount on top of your pledge in order for us to ship you your game. For example, if you pledged at the SUPER EARLY BIRD level with $48, and you live in Germany, your total pledge would need to be $48 + $25 = $73.

Each international backer outside the EU is responsible for customs, etc. which may be charged upon delivery.

Risks and challenges

This is our first Kickstarter project, but that doesn't mean we are jumping into this blindfolded. On the contrary, we have spent a year in close contact with the Board Game Designer's Guild of Utah, along with several Kickstarter veterans in preparation for our own debut. We've heard horror stories and success stories, and we're committed with all we've got to be a success!

Common risks with Kickstarter board games:

Production delays - It's hard to anticipate manufacturing delays, errors and miscommunication. We have already submitted several prototype designs to our manufacturer and they have processed all costs involved and manufacturing dates. We're as prepared as we could be in this department... but rest assured that we will be incredibly open with all our loyal supporters in what our status is along the way. If we're late for any reason, you'll know why. We won't be satisfied until we have a game that matches our vision.

Shaky game mechanics - This is a huge deal for me. Sometimes a start-up company can have a great original idea, but lack the skills to bring it to its full potential. That is not us. With Sakura, we have exhaustively play-tested it with hundreds of gamers. We have earned the coveted stamp of approval from the Board Game Designer's Guild of Utah. They drag games through the gauntlet, and only approve games with solid game mechanics and rule books. We will post our rule book and video walk-throughs so you can be familiar with Sakura before you support us. We're confident you're going to love it!

Shipping problems - At first, this seems inconspicuous, but shipping issues are among the most migraine-inducing challenges for any Kickstarter. Despite being a small start-up company, we will deliver quality customer support. Yes, we're shipping internationally, and we hope our international backers will be patient with the mail carriers. We want to bring Sakura to the world, even if that means a lot more work on our end!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $48 or more
About $48

SAKURA THE BOARD GAME - SUPER EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! Let's get the ball rolling! You will receive 1 copy of the board game along with all future stretch goals. Rule book signed by the game designer. Ships free within the USA. International backers: please see the shipping section.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $52 or more
About $52

SAKURA THE BOARD GAME - EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! You will receive 1 copy of the board game along with all future stretch goals at this special price. Rule book signed by the game designer! Ships free within the USA. International backers: please see the shipping section.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $55 or more
About $55

SAKURA THE BOARD GAME - You will receive 1 copy of the board game along with all future stretch goals. Rule book signed by the game designer! Ships free within the USA. International backers: please see the shipping section.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $110 or more
About $110

BUNDLE PRO - You will receive 2 copies of the board game along with all future stretch goals. As a bonus for bundling, both games will come with 6 maps apiece (2 more than the base game)! Rule books signed by the game designer. Ships free, but only within the USA.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

HEIRLOOM QUALITY VERSION - You will receive our lovingly hand-made version of Sakura which includes all elements of the regular game, plus custom forged pewter coins, wooden abacuses, wood-backed maps, and a carpenter-made game box with the Sakura kanji laser etched into it. Rule book signed by the game designer! Ships free, but only in the USA.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

BUNDLE MASTER - You will receive 5 copies of the board game along with all future stretch goals. As a bonus for bundling, all 5 games will come with 6 maps apiece (2 more than the base game)! Rule books signed by the game designer. Ships free, but only within the USA.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $325 or more
About $325

INTERNATIONAL HEIRLOOM QUALITY VERSION - You will receive our lovingly hand-made version of Sakura which includes all elements of the regular game, plus custom forged pewter coins, wooden abacuses, wood-backed maps, and a carpenter-made game box with the Sakura kanji laser etched into it. Rule book signed by the game designer! Ships free, and ships EU friendly!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

MEET THE TEAM - You and up to 3 other friends can meet our Provo, Utah-based team for a night of sushi and Sakura! Traveling expenses not included. You will receive a signed prototype copy of the game as soon as our Kickstarter funds, along with a copy of the manufactured game in December.